Stella Pevsner (1921–2020)

Su Phan and her family live in South Vietnam where they know war is happening but in their remote village it all seems so far away. It becomes more and more real however when the Communist soldiers destroy her father’s shop and arrest him for not being Communist enough. As more bombs fall, the villagers flee to live in the jungle. Su Phan’s family is poor now and they earn money and trades by selling dim sum and doing laundry for the neighbors. It is seven years before Chung Bo, the show more father, returns from prison. Based on the true experiences of Fay Tang, which she wrote down in her ESL classes in the United States. show less

Slightly melodramatic in some parts, told only through the views of one character. Had some healthy thoughts on dealing with grief and moving on. Overall pretty good story. It's more of an 'episode' rather than a plot.

Thirteen year old Andrea feels that her sixteen year old sister, Elaine has taken over the family. She does not obey their parents, she goes out whenever she wants, she plays her radio too loud, she runs away. Andy feels left out and afraid to go home from school to see what kind of shape her mother is in.
Her big brother, Joe is in college and he calls and visits whenever he can. Andrea tried not to complain too much about Elaine to Joe, but cannot help it. Joe encourages her to be her own show more person. show less

A realistic portrayal of a family after the suicide of the oldest child, Diane. Told from her sister's, Bethany, perspective it details the year following Diane's death including the younger children's behavioural problems, such as aggressive behaviour, bedwetting and nightmares. Also discussed is the family's counselling sessions. A year later Bethany can say "[I]t's time to say goodbye to you and your dying. Your place is in our past. Our place is in the present."